United to splash cash in off-season

Sir Alex Ferguson will be handed wads of cash to splash on new players in the summer despite the club’s enormous debt. According to Manchester United chief executive David Gill, the Red Devils will compete effectively in the transfer market but he refused to name the players the club would go after. "I can look you in the eye and tell you straight that we have the transfer funds available to the manager," said Gill on Sunday. "Targets have been discussed already, as you'd expect, but it's not our style to talk about names and it never will be." United have been strongly linked to Real Madrid striker Karim Benzema and Tottenham playmaker Luca Modric in recent weeks. The club has also already signed Chris Smalling from Fulham and Mexican striker Javier Hernandez for next season.